By TIM ADAMS

Sports editor

The 2009 WesCo North softball season has not been a kind one for the Oak Harbor Wildcats.

In Thursday’s final game of the campaign the playoff bound Arlington Eagles handed Oak Harbor its 14th league loss of the season, defeating the Wildcats 5-1.

Arlington got to starting pitcher Kayla Ratliff early, bunching together four straight hits in the top of the second inning and scoring twice.

Ratliff was in trouble once again in the top of the third loading the bases with one out after another run had scored, but the senior right-hander settled down and retired the final two batters.

Meanwhile, Arlington hurler Christine Rayner was one tough cookie on the mound. The senior, who is headed for North Dakota State next year on a softball scholarship, struck out the side in the second and third innings. She finished the game with nine strikeouts and one walk.

Kim Mowbray broke the string leading off the fourth inning with a bunt base hit and Nicole Mowray followed with a sharp single to left field to put a pair of Wildcat runners on base.

Kim Mowbray later scored on Ratliff’s sacrifice fly, but that was the only Oak Harbor runner to cross the plate.

“We left five runners on base during clutch situations,” coach Jessica Weikle said. “We weren’t able to come through today and with errors, missed signs and girls left on base, we can’t expect to come out with a win.”

The Mowbray sisters were both 2-for-3 as part of the team’s seven hit effort.

Whitney Osborn pitched the final four innings for Oak Harbor giving up one run while striking out four.

“The seniors had a good game, and put a lot of heart into their last game as Wildcats,” Weikle said. “The program is going to miss their leadership.”

Oak Harbor ends the season 2-14 and 5-14 overall.